Hidden Costs Of Healthcare

Increased financialization is driving healthcare costs and must be addressed in our nation's public policy.

Recent research sponsored by the Institute for New Economic Thinking has drawn attention to important factors for rising healthcare costs that have thus far received only cursory public attention, including:

Stock buybacks and financialization in the business models of major pharmaceutical companies and their relation to innovation;

Patents, market exclusivity, and the commercialization of government-funded research;

Drug prices and promotion practices;

The influence of private equity firms in driving up prices in segments of medical care, especially hospital charges, and surprise billing of patients.

This is a special 2-hour event moderated by Steve Clemons of The Hill. Leading researchers, Eileen Appelbaum and Rosemary Batt as well as William Lazonick and Öner Tulum, will present their findings on these topics that will allow reporters, analysts, and the general public to engage in an active discussion.